Pope Francis undergoes abdominal surgery

Pope Francis underwent a successful, three-hour operation on his abdomen, the Vatican said Wednesday, after renewed fears over the 86-year-old’s fragile health.

There were no reported complications, the Vatican said. It had earlier said the pope would remain in the hospital for several days.

Francis reacted well to the surgery and to the anesthesia, and had already made a joke since, according to one of the doctors involved in the procedure.

“He has been in pain. This wasn’t an urgent surgery …. He continued to feel the pain, so a surgery was decided yesterday,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri said at a press conference in Rome.

“Other pathologies or illnesses were not found,” Alfieri said, adding that the pope has resumed his work from hospital.

“Now he is awake, he is fine, and he is already at work.” Francis will remain in the hospital for around 10 days for recovery, the doctor said.